Mike Monroe: Interested in Damon

I asked Gregg Popovich Monday night if the Spurs would be interested in Damon Stoudamire once he bought his way out of his contract with the Memphis Grizzlies and he reminded me he is not allowed to speak about another team’s players until they have cleared waivers. He also reminded me he once was fined by the NBA for forgetting this rule and making some innocent comments about a player in the past.

He also asked me if Stoudemire had, indeed, completed the buyout process. The interest he expressed in Stoudamire’s status seemed a hint that the Spurs would, indeed, be interested in a perimeter player whose best skill is scoring. The Spurs have had problems scoring for about a month. Stoudamire seems like a player who would fit.

Stoudamire says he wants to play for a title contender, so the Spurs fit. The Boston Celtics are the presumed leader in efforts to sign Stoudamire, who knows he will be getting a veteran minimum deal. The Celtics, according to some, are as interested in putting something together for Clippers point guard Sam Cassell as they are in adding Stoudamire, so “Mighty Mouse” might have gotten cold feet about going to Boston.

I’m not sure why a player who no longer is under contract to the Grizzlies has to wait 48 hours to clear waivers, but that’s the technicalities of the league’s collective bargaining agreement. We all will have to wait, for a Stoudamire decision and for Popovich to talk about him.

Bottom line: The Spurs’ recent struggles mean they have to consider any player that might be able to help them escape thier funk.